High Tech High School's French students, under the guidance of Dr. Gashi, showcased their poetic talent at the annual Haiku Contest, held on June 7th, 2025, at the United Nations International School (UNIS). High Tech High School celebrated multiple winners, including two students and a faculty member.
The contest saw an impressive surge in international participation and linguistic diversity this year. The English division received approximately 400 entries, while the Japanese division garnered close to 900 haiku. French submissions totaled around 140, Spanish 30, Italian over 20, and a few entries were received in German. "We are delighted to see the expansion of Haiku written in multiple languages," stated Mami Masuya Fleming from the Haiku Contest Committee.
A distinguished panel of judges, including John Stevenson, Popona Tsukino, Luce Pelletier, George Swede, and Marco Fraticelli, meticulously reviewed poems across various categories: Elementary, Middle School, High School, Teacher, and College. Entries were considered in English, French, and Japanese divisions.
This year's contest truly highlighted its global appeal, attracting submissions from 11 different schools and programs in the English Division, 16 in the Japanese Division, and 5 in the French Division. The German, Italian, and Spanish Divisions were exclusively represented by the United Nations International School. Participants spanned the Tri-State area, with additional entries from Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. Remarkably, the contest also welcomed submissions from as far as Japan, Kenya, and Slovakia, underscoring the universal nature of haiku and its ability to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries.
High Tech High School Winners:
- Sarah Tarantini: 2nd Place
- Maryanna Manrique-Osorio: Honorable Mention
- Dr. Laje Gashi: Winner, Teachers' Category
High Tech High School congratulates all participants and winners for their remarkable contributions to this celebration of poetic expression.
